Fuel-feeding means for internal-combustion engines.



P. W. SEAGER. FUEL FEEDING MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. I917.

1,235,250. Patented July 31, 1917.

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FUEL-FEEDING MEANS FOR EVTERNAL-CGMBUSTIQH ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 191?.

Application filed March 19, 1917. Serial 0. 155,623.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERCY W. SEAGER, a subject of the King of England, residing in the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Feeding Means for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to means for raising the liquid fuel used in automobiles from the main supply tank located below the level of the carbureter into a regulating or distributing tank located above the carbureter from which the fuel will flow by gravity to the carbureter, and it may be used with other engines; the objectthereof is to supply a simple and positive apparatus for that purpose.

In the drawings forming a part application Figure 1 is an elevational view of my invention showing it in place on an automobile, shown diagrammatically in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the intermediate or distributing tank.

Referring to the drawings 5 is an automobile of any make on which the main liquid fuel supply tank 6 is carried at a level below the carburetor 7 of the engine. The distributing tank 8 is preferably placed under the hood of the machine close to the dashboard. Leading from the supply tank 6 to and emptying into the distributing tank 8 is a pipe 9 which when the interior of tank 8 is connected to suction carries the liquid'fuel from the tank 6 into tank 8. Extending through the top wall 10 of tank 8 and connected thereto is a valve casing llwhich has a central Vertical channel 12 therein which opens at the bottom into tank 8. Above the top of the tank is a port 13 which connects channel 12 with atmosphere and below the top is a port 1& which connects channel 12 with theinterior of the tank. At a short distance above port 13 channel 12 is con tracted and terminates a short distance below the top of the casing. Qne or more ports or channels 15 extend from near the top of the channel 12 and open throu h the top of the casing within pipe 16 whic pipe connects the casing with the manifold 17 of the engine shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Mounted to move vertically in channel of this 12 is control valve 18 the upper portion of which has a working fit in the contracted upper portion, and tie lower portion has a working fit in the lower portion of channel 12. Between ports 13 and 1 valve 18 is reduced in size so that said ports are connected when tank has its full supply of liquid as hereafter explained and as shown in Fig. Valve 18 has a central longitudinal channel 19 which extends from the top to nearly the bottom thereof. A. port 20 near the bottom of the channel 19 puts channel 19 in communication at all times with the interior of tank 8. A lever 21 is pivotally mounted by pin '22 in bearing 23 secured to the top 16 and is pivotally con nected by pin 24 to the bottom of valve 18. A weight is mounted on the other end of lever 21. Lever 21 has a longitudinal slot 26 therein which permits the lever to slide on pin 22. A guide rod 27 is also pivotally connected to valve by pin 24. Rod 27 has secured thereto a cup 28. which is open at the top and has a transverse partition 29 provided; with one or more ports 30. Near the partition, preferably just above is a small port 31in the side wall of the cup. By the use of a small port in the side wall the level of the liquid in the tank on the outside and inside the cup will lower as the liquid is used, and when the liquid begins to flow into the tank it will flow into the cup faster than it can flow out through the port so that the tank will be nearly full or as shown in Fig.

2, before weight 25 will return valve 18 to break the vacuum. A carbureter supply tank 32 is secured to the bottom of tank 8.

The top of tank 8 is removably secured thereon by rods 33 of which there may be any suitable number. One of these rods is hollow opens into the top of the carbureter supply tank and has a cap on its other end provided with a port 35 which opens to atmosphere. Secured in the bottom of tank 8 and extending to near the bottom of tank 32 is a 36 the lower end of which is enlarged to provide a valve casing 37 having a port 38 therein. A cup or check valve 33 has a working fit casing 3'? and is held from dropping out of the casing by cotter pin 40. Connected to the bottom of tank 32 'is the supply pipe n which conveys the liquid to the carbureter. tank to be drained when desired. A plug 43 may be removed for filling tank 8 when starting the device.

In the operation my device we start with tanks and 32 tilled as shown in Fig.

A plug 42 enables the 2. As the liquid is used through the carbureter in the usual manner the level of the liquid in the tank 8 gradually lowers until a sufficient portion of cup 28 is uncovered, which with the liquid contained therein over-balances the weight of weight 25 and connected parts. Valve 18 then descends and cuts off port 13 and at the same time the top of the valve comes below channels 15 thereby throwing the top of tank 8' to the exhaust suction of the pistons of the engine. That portion of valve 18 which is above port 13 when the valve is inthe position shown in Fig. 2 is a little narrower than the width of port 13 so that when port 13 is cut 0E from communication with port 14 suction will operate to finish the downward stroke of the valve 18. The liquid then will be drawn by suction from tank 6 into tank 8. This suctionalso closes valve 39. As the liquid flows into tank 8 it is directed into the top of cup 28 which it.

quickly fills and then fiows' over the top. When the liquid fills tank 8 to submerge a large enough portion of cup 28 weight 25 returns valve 18 to the position shown in Fig.2 and the vacuum in tank 8 is broken and no liquid will pass from tank 6 to 8.

I have shown a small port in cup 28 near the middle of the wall asthat construction permits more fuel being used out of the supply tank before the regulating tank will be thrown to suction but said port could be omitted.

Having described my invention what If claim is:

1. In combination with an explosion engine in which liquid fuel is used, said engine having a manifold, a carbureter; a main liquid supply tank; a regulating tank above the plane of the carbureter; a pipe connecting said tanks; a valve casing in the top of said regulating tank; said casing having a central vertical channel therein ex tending from the bottom to nearly the top thereof and ports therein, one connecting to atmosphere, one connecting to the regulating tank and one leading from the side of said channel near the top and terminating in the top; a connection from said casing to the manifold; a valve vertically movable in said channel, said valve having a central longitudinal channel openmt the top and having a port near the bottom of the channel and being reduced in size in portions thereof and being adapted to connect the interior of said regulating tank to atmosphere when in its uppermost position and to connect it to suction when in its lowermost position; a carbureter supply tank; a connection between said last tank and said regulating tank; a check valve on said last connection; and a pipe leading from said combination a main supply tank; a manifold; a regulating tank above the level of the main tank and of the carbureter; a connection between the main and regulating tanks; acarbureter supply tank connected to the regulating tank; a check valve in said last connection; a connection between said supply tank and the carbureter; a connection between the regulating tank and the manifold, said connection comprising a conduit pipe and a valve casing in the top of the tank with ports, one opening into said last pipe,' one opening to atmosphere and one opening into the tank, said casing having a central channel open at the bottom, and closed at the top with the upper portion reduced; avalve in said casing, said valve connecting at any one time only two connection from said last carbureter supply receptacle to the carbureter; a regulating receptacle; a connection between the regulating and carbureter supply receptacles; a check valve on said last connection; a connection between the regulating receptacle and the main fuel supply tank; a connection from the regulating receptacle to the engine manifold; said last connection comprising in part a valve which in one position connects said regulating receptacle to suction and in another position to atmosphere; and counter balancing means to move said valve from one position to another, said counterbalancing means being adapted to have the weight of one side thereof change by the change in volume of the liquid in the regulating tank. v

4. The combination of an internal combustion engine having a carbureter and manifold connected thereto; with a fuel supply tank below the engine carbureter; a carbureter fuel supply receptacle located above the carbureter, a connection from said carbureter supply receptacle tothe carbureter; a regulating receptacle; a connection between the regulating and supply receptacles; a check valve on said last connection; a connection between the regulating receptacle and the supply tank;:a valve casing in the top of the regulating receptacle having a central channel open at the bottom and reduced in size in the top portion; a pipe connecting the manifold with said valve casing, said casing having a port opening into said pipe and a port opening to near the bottom and having a port near' the bottom, said valve being reduced in size at the top and near the bottom and in one position connecting the ports opening to atmosphere and into the receptacle and in the other position connecting the port opening into the pipe with the port opening into the receptacle; a bearing depending from the cover of said regulating receptacle; a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said bearing, one endof said lever being pivotally connected to said valve; a Weight on the other end of said lever; and a cup having a small port centrally in its side Wall connected to said valve.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name March 20 PERCY W. SEAGER. 

